After trying on half a dozen rock shoes, I settled on these for my second pair (but first more-aggressive ones that fit properly) and based on my research, I expected to have a painful break-in period. Sure enough, it took a good 3 weeks, climbing 2-3 times a week, to break into them. With that said, and after about a month, they now feel comfortable and have helped improve my footing, especially on smaller holds. It will be hard to go back to my first pair after these. I would highly recommend this product if he/she is looking for something more aggressive and don't mind the pain for the first few weeks of ownership.